Resources For Teachers

Teacher Recommendations: An Overview

Recommendations should be written on official school stationary. Include the name of the college, address and, if available, the name of the Dean of Admissions. Include the student’s full legal name as well.

The body of the letter should include the following, if possible:

An overview of your relationship with the student - how long you've known them and in which contexts (i.e. classes, extracurricular activities, etc.)

Special accomplishments and skills (most likely in the subject he/she teaches);

Examples of academic excellence;

Evidence of leadership;

How the student interacts with other students in the classroom;

Integrity and Character;

Personal anecdotes depicting the character traits described;

Challenges and obstacles successfully overcome by the student;

As much as possible, avoid being redundant and restating facts that the college can find in the student’s transcript or CV.

Colleges like to see how the student will thrive in an academically challenging environment, so teachers should write about how you have the necessary skills and discipline to go through a rigorous academic program and survive in a college community

Make the student come alive!

Download a high resolution copy of this writing guide by clicking here.